History · Hamburg · Germany
8 historic sites to see in Hamburg
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arnoldius, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Speicherstadt, Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz and Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–13 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 10–13 hours
- Areas
- HafenCity and Speicherstadt, St. Pauli and Neustadt
Historic sites in Hamburg
Historic site · HafenCity and Speicherstadt
1.Speicherstadt
It is UNESCO-listed with the neighbouring Kontorhaus District, and the Wasserschloss on its point is the classic photo stop.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- After dark
Street · St. Pauli
2.Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz
The Beatles played clubs in the area between 1960 and 1962, remembered by steel silhouettes at the Beatles-Platz at the corner of Große Freiheit.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours (evening)
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Waterfront · St. Pauli
3.Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel
Beside them, the Old Elbe Tunnel of 1911 takes pedestrians and cyclists down by lift and through a tiled tube under the river; on the far side is one of the best views of the city skyline.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Religious site · Neustadt
4.St. Michael's Church (Michel)
A lift or 450-odd steps lead to a viewing platform over the harbour, and the crypt holds the tomb of composer C. P. E. Bach.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Architecture · Altstadt
5.Hamburg City Hall
Guided tours visit the lavish state rooms, while the courtyard with its Hygieia fountain is open to anyone.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · HafenCity and Speicherstadt
6.International Maritime Museum
In Kaispeicher B, the oldest surviving warehouse in the port, nine floors display thousands of ship models, navigation instruments, uniforms and marine paintings from a private collection, from Viking-era boats to container ships.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Altstadt
7.St. Nikolai Memorial
A glass lift climbs the surviving tower to a viewing platform about 76 metres up, and a museum in the crypt documents the air raids on Hamburg.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Architecture · Altstadt
8.Chilehaus and Kontorhaus District
It is the centrepiece of the Kontorhaus District, a UNESCO-listed area of brick Expressionist office blocks next to the Speicherstadt.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| HafenCity and Speicherstadt | Speicherstadt and International Maritime Museum | 1–2 hours + 2 hours |
| St. Pauli | Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz and Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel | 2–4 hours (evening) + 1 hour |
| Neustadt | St. Michael's Church (Michel) | 1 hour |
| Altstadt | Hamburg City Hall, St. Nikolai Memorial and Chilehaus and Kontorhaus District | 1 hour + 1 hour + 30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 3 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (HafenCity and Speicherstadt): Speicherstadt → International Maritime Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (St. Pauli): Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz → Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Neustadt and Altstadt): St. Michael's Church (Michel) → Hamburg City Hall → St. Nikolai Memorial → Chilehaus and Kontorhaus District, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 5°C (41°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still wintry and damp; occasional frost and, in cold years, ice on the Alster.
- March: highs of 9°C (48°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Days lengthen and the spring funfair opens, though it is often cold and windy.
- January: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, grey and short days, but museums, concerts and cosy cafés are quiet.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Altstadt and Neustadt — City Hall, Jungfernstieg and shopping streets beside the Binnenalster
- HafenCity and Speicherstadt — Brick warehouses, canals and new waterfront architecture around the Elbphilharmonie
- St. Pauli — Reeperbahn neon, harbour piers and the city's football club
More of Hamburg
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Hamburg?
Speicherstadt. Built between the 1880s and 1920s on oak piles, this is the largest warehouse district in the world: neo-Gothic brick blocks rising from canals, once full of coffee, tea and spices.
+Which of these are free in Hamburg?
Speicherstadt, Reeperbahn and Beatles-Platz, Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel and Chilehaus and Kontorhaus District.